The Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF), Southeast Asia’s largest export-oriented furniture trade show, is set to revolutionise Malaysia’s furniture industry with the launch of an integrated design ecosystem. This initiative, anchored by the MIFF Furniture Design Competition (MIFF FDC) 2026 and the MIFF FDC CLUB, aims to nurture young talent and foster collaboration amongst designers and manufacturers.

The MIFF FDC 2026, themed “Playful, Practical, Purposeful Furniture for Generation Alpha,” challenges designers under 40 to create innovative bedroom furniture for children aged five to nine. Chief Judge Eric Leong emphasised the competition’s focus on future consumers, stating, “This is about designing for the future consumer.” Winners will receive cash prizes totalling $2,550 (RM12,000), trophies, and recognition, with submissions closing on 1 December 2025.

Building on the competition’s success, the MIFF FDC CLUB offers a year-round platform for collaboration, operating through networking, curated collaborations, and content development. This club connects young designers with established manufacturers, providing opportunities such as facility tours and prototype development. Recent collaborations include partnerships between past competition winners and local manufacturers, set to debut at MIFF 2026.

Additionally, the xOrdinary Design Exhibition, themed “Happiness First,” will showcase unconventional design ideas. Together, these initiatives form a comprehensive ecosystem supporting Malaysia’s shift from Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) and Original Brand Manufacturer (OBM) manufacturing, aligning with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030.

MIFF 2026 will be held from 4 to 7 March 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre and World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.

Six national payment networks from five ASEAN countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a common global standards body for non-card instant retail payments. The George Town Accord, signed on 9 October 2025 in Malaysia, aims to create seamless, secure, and interoperable cross-border transactions for over 538 million people.

The signatories include Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet), Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS) from Singapore, National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS), BancNet from the Philippines, and Indonesia’s Artajasa and Rintis. This collaboration marks the launch of the Next50 Common Standards project, which seeks to harmonise QR payments, account-to-account transfers, e-wallets, and other mobile-based digital payment methods using technologies like Near Field Communication (NFC), biometrics, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Farhan Ahmad, Group CEO of PayNet, highlighted the importance of the initiative, stating, “Project Next50 is our answer. This represents domestic payment networks’ commitment to shared ownership, practical cooperation, and strategic alignment in a rapidly evolving payments industry.”

Lawrence Chan, Group CEO of NETS, remarked that the MoU is a significant step towards ASEAN’s seamless payment connectivity and interoperability, enhancing the region’s digital economy.

The Next50 project aims to link domestic payment networks globally whilst respecting each nation’s payment sovereignty. It invites payment networks worldwide to join in advancing interoperable and inclusive cross-border payments. The immediate focus will be on streamlining technical and operational standards, including dispute resolution and fraud prevention, to establish a safer global payment ecosystem.

Food Innovators Holdings Limited (FIH) has launched a new KANBE Ramen Restaurant at The Waterfront @ Desa ParkCity in Kuala Lumpur, marking the fourth KANBE outlet in Malaysia. This expansion is part of FIH’s strategy to scale quality Japanese dining concepts across key markets in Asia. The new restaurant is structured as a franchise-style collaboration, with F Innovators Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., a wholly owned subsidiary of FIH, investing 25% of the total project cost.

Located in the award-winning township of Desa ParkCity, the restaurant offers a premium-casual dining experience, emphasising warmth, craftsmanship, and multisensory engagement. The area is known for its vibrant community and family-friendly environment, attracting approximately 20,000 visitors daily. The restaurant occupies a space of 1,502 square feet and can seat up to 58 guests.

FIH CEO Kubota Yasuaki stated, “We are pleased to expand the KANBE brand together with our partners. This milestone is a testament to our capabilities in brand introduction, marketing, and scaling across Southeast Asia.”

This opening follows the recent debut of FIH’s Halal-certified Japanese Honolu Ramen in Kuala Lumpur. With six new restaurants launched in 2025, FIH continues to expand its portfolio, aiming to deliver authentic Japanese dining experiences to local customers. The Group manages 228 subleased properties in Japan and has a brand portfolio of 31 restaurants across Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Food Innovators Holdings Limited (FIH), a company specialising in Japanese cuisines across Asia, has announced a net profit of S$0.2m for the first half of 2026, marking a return to profitability. This turnaround is attributed to a 10.5% year-on-year increase in revenue, reaching S$23.8m, primarily driven by the expansion of its sublease business in Japan and restaurant operations in Malaysia.

The company’s sublease business in Japan saw a 17.8% rise in revenue, whilst the restaurant business in Malaysia grew by 15.5%. Despite a slight decline in gross profit margin by 0.8 percentage points due to initial costs from opening five new restaurants, gross profit increased by 4.7% to S$3.8m.

FIH continues to benefit from rising tourism in its key markets, expanding its sublease property portfolio in Japan’s vibrant food and beverage sector, and scaling its restaurant business in Southeast Asia. The company has introduced a new chain-store expansion strategy, sharing investment costs and profits with employees to facilitate regional growth. This model has been implemented with the opening of a new KANBE Ramen restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.

Looking forward, FIH plans to leverage its strong network and brand credibility to expand its sublease property portfolio and introduce innovative dining concepts. CEO Kubota Yasuaki stated, “We remain committed to curating quality Japanese brands across Asia, bringing authentic Japanese cuisine and dining culture to a wider audience.”

Malaysia has unveiled the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Climate Resilience at the opening of the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM) 2025. The event, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, is organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) and the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC). It seeks to secure $11.7 billion (RM55 billion) in business leads, with participation from 50 countries and 500 exhibition booths.

The opening ceremony was led by Dato Sri Huang Tiong Sii, Deputy Minister of NRES, who highlighted Malaysia’s role as ASEAN Chair 2025. He stated, “IGEM reflects this vision by convening regional leaders, innovators, and communities to work together on practical solutions for the climate transition.”

IGEM 2025 serves as a marketplace for converting ideas into investments, with several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed and new collaborations announced. The event will feature key programmes such as the ASEAN Circular Economy Forum, the 3rd Energy Efficiency Forum, and Malaysia-Japan Environment Week, focusing on decarbonisation and resilience.

Prominent exhibitors include Petronas, showcasing hydrogen energy and carbon capture technologies; Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), presenting solar initiatives; OCBC Bank, offering green financing solutions; and Xiamen Solar First Energy Technology, a leader in solar energy solutions.

As ASEAN Chair 2025, Malaysia is reinforcing its leadership in the region’s net-zero transition, ensuring sustainability remains central to growth. IGEM 2025 continues to drive investment opportunities and foster cross-border deals, setting the stage for impactful green innovation and collaboration.

AhaPay, a fintech company backed by Fingular, has announced a strategic partnership with Malaysia-based Paydibs to introduce Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions nationwide. This collaboration seeks to enhance payment flexibility and accessibility for merchants and consumers, marking a significant step in AhaPay’s regional expansion strategy.

Paydibs, operating under Malaysia’s Financial Services Act 2013, is renowned for its secure and reliable payment solutions, catering to local businesses with a variety of payment channels, including digital wallets. The partnership will see AhaPay offering flexible 4 and 7 instalment plans, providing unprecedented affordability and payment options for eligible merchants and users.

The integration will be facilitated by the Paydibs NEO all-in-one terminal, allowing merchants to activate AhaPay BNPL alongside QR and card payments. The onboarding process is efficient, taking approximately four to five working days from application to implementation. Once onboarded, merchants gain access to the broader Paydibs ecosystem, including online payment gateways and future financing solutions.

Harold Chen, CEO of AhaPay, highlighted the partnership’s focus on sustainability and inclusive growth, stating it empowers underserved communities by fostering responsible consumer financing practices. Tee Kean Kang, Chief Commercial Officer of Paydibs, emphasised the collaboration’s role in expanding financial access to underbanked segments and building inclusive financial solutions for Malaysian merchants.

This partnership not only aims to improve sales performance and conversion rates for merchants but also enhances financial well-being for consumers by distributing costs responsibly over time.

Singapore’s DBS has surpassed PETRONAS to become the most valuable brand in the ASEAN region, according to the Brand Finance ASEAN 500 2025 report. The bank’s brand value soared by 56% to reach US$17.2b, marking a significant milestone in the regional brand landscape.

Brand Finance, a leading brand valuation consultancy, highlighted that PETRONAS, despite falling to second place, maintains a strong AAA- rating and a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 83.7 out of 100. Meanwhile, Thailand’s PTT climbed to third place with an 11% increase in brand value, now standing at US$9.2 billion.

The report also noted Malaysia Airlines as the fastest-growing brand in the ASEAN region, with its brand value tripling to US$607m. Additionally, Vinpearl from Vietnam emerged as the strongest brand in the region, boasting a BSI of 97.5 out of 100 and an AAA+ rating.

These developments underscore the dynamic shifts within the ASEAN brand landscape, with DBS’s rise reflecting its robust market strategies and regional influence. As the region continues to evolve, these brands are setting benchmarks for growth and strength in their respective sectors.

The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) have unveiled the 2025 Islamic Finance Development Indicator (IFDI) report, which evaluates the Islamic finance industry’s progress across 140 countries. The report forecasts that global Islamic finance assets will soar to US$9.7 trillion by 2029, growing at an annual rate of 10%.

Malaysia has retained its top position in the global rankings, followed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, thanks to their strong governance and policy innovation. Other countries in the top rankings include Indonesia, Pakistan, and Kuwait. Mustafa Adil, Head of Islamic Finance at LSEG, highlighted the industry’s future, stating, “The industry will be shaped by cross-border connectivity, regulatory advancements, and strategic national initiatives.”

The report also notes the resilience of the sukuk market, which surpassed US$1t in outstanding value in 2024. Total global sukuk issuance increased by 11% year-on-year, reaching US$254.3b. ESG sukuk, which integrates sustainability into Islamic finance, has also grown significantly, with US$15.4b in new issuances.

Islamic banking remains dominant, accounting for 72% of total industry assets and expanding to 84 markets globally. The largest markets—Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia—represent US$4.3t of global Islamic finance assets. Khalid Khalafalla, Acting CEO of ICD, remarked, “The IFDI continues to serve as a vital benchmark for policymakers and market participants.”

The IFDI assesses Islamic finance development across five areas: Financial Performance, Governance, Sustainability, Awareness, and Knowledge, providing a comprehensive view of the industry’s landscape.

Regency Specialist Hospital has launched Johor’s first Next-Gen Smart Ward, marking a significant advancement in patient care through the integration of advanced digital technology. Developed in collaboration with Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Lanseed Medical Group, and Origin Integrated Studios, the smart ward aims to enhance safety, efficiency, and personalisation in healthcare delivery.

The launch event, held on 11 October, also featured a Smart Hospital Forum, bringing together healthcare leaders, clinicians, and technology partners to discuss the future of digital healthcare in Malaysia. Serena Yong, CEO of Regency Specialist Hospital, highlighted the ward’s design, which balances efficiency and compassionate care, allowing healthcare teams to focus more on patient interaction.

Key features of the smart ward include a nurse dashboard, smart bedside terminals, and real-time monitoring systems. These innovations are expected to reduce manual data entry by 67%, improve response times by 16%, and enhance team communication. The smart ward also empowers patients by enabling them to request assistance and access their care plans directly from their bedside terminals.

This initiative is part of a strategic collaboration with Chang Gung Medical Foundation, known for its expertise in smart hospital innovations. The partnership underscores Regency Specialist Hospital’s commitment to setting new benchmarks in healthcare, combining global expertise with local innovation to deliver safer and more patient-centred services.

As the first of its kind in Johor, the Next-Gen Smart Ward represents a transformative step in healthcare, promising a more humane and meaningful patient experience.

The Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) has unveiled FSF Xcel, Malaysia’s pioneering digital skills assessment platform for the financial sector. This initiative is designed to benchmark workforce capabilities and expedite upskilling, supporting Malaysia’s shift towards a more adaptive and sustainable financial ecosystem.

FSF Xcel builds on the Future Skills Framework (FSF) introduced in 2024, offering structured, industry-validated assessments. These assessments help financial institutions identify skill gaps, map learning and career pathways, and future-proof talent strategies. The platform covers 159 job roles and 157 critical skills, including both technical and behavioural competencies.

Developed in collaboration with Accendo Technologies, a Malaysian AI-powered talent intelligence company, FSF Xcel integrates global best practices with local expertise. This collaboration aims to strengthen Malaysia’s financial talent pipeline, aligning with Bank Negara Malaysia’s Financial Sector Blueprint 2022–2026.

The financial sector, contributing an estimated 6.7% to Malaysia’s GDP in 2024 and employing nearly 167,000 professionals, remains vital to national economic growth. FSF Xcel accelerates the industry’s transition towards a digitally fluent, innovation-driven workforce. It offers real-time analytics and a common competency language to guide workforce planning and benchmark capabilities.

As Malaysia continues to evolve its financial sector, FSF Xcel is poised to play a crucial role in ensuring the workforce is equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in a rapidly changing environment.